Practical Guide to Communicating Bible Doctrine | Charles Ryrie

Charles C. Ryrie. Practical Guide to Communicating Bible Doctrine. B&H, 2005. 88 pp.

Regrettably, doctrine has fallen on hard times.

One has only to skim contemporary book catalogs to see how true that observation is. The proportion of doctrinal books in relation to plethora of other categories of books is small.

Probably the most-often-heard objection to exposing people to doctrine is that it is not relevant. Experience is more important. Or to put it another way: doctrine is not practical.

Relevant means “to have significant and demonstrable bearing on the matter at hand.” Practical means “to relate to practice.” Accusing doctrine of irrelevance or impracticality misuses both terms and assumes the Bible itself (from which our doctrine comes) is irrelevant and impractical. Of course, no one would want to make such a charge against the Word of God—at least not out loud.

Never forget what the Bible claims for itself. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching [very doctrinal], for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness [very relevant]; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work [very practical]” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The word translated adequate means “proficient and able to meet all demands which are placed upon one’s life.” Putting the emphases of these two verses together, they clearly teach that biblical doctrine is not only relevant and practical but also provides the necessary proficiency for the believer’s life and activities. There’s nothing irrelevant or impractical about that.

Remember how the apostle Paul used doctrine as the basis for correct lifestyle. In Romans, a letter written to a church he had no prior involvement with, the first eleven chapters are loaded with basic Christian doctrine (sin, salvation, sanctification, eschatology). Then beginning in chapter 12, he exhorts and commands particulars necessary for godly living. We see the same order clearly in Ephesians (doctrine in chapters 1-3 and practice in 4-6) and Colossians (doctrine in chapters 1-2 and practice in 3-4) and to a less marked extent in his other letters (e.g., 1 Cor.; Phil.; 1 Thess.; 2 Thess.).

A second excuse for neglecting doctrine says that since it is difficult to understand doctrinal teaching we should not press it on people. We are admonished to “put the cookies on the lower shelf.” That is good advice for some occasions and for some audiences. But think what would happen if we always followed that advice. We would produce hunchbacked Christians! Remember how babies grow. They push up on their hands and knees, then they crawl, then they try to stand up with help, and then on their own. To be on their own, they have to exercise, stretch, and reach up. So it is with Christians. To be strong we have to exercise and stretch. And to promote that process, we who teach should not always put the cookies on the lower shelf.

Milk truth is appropriate for the infant stage of Christian growth, but solid food is necessary for maturity (Heb. 5:12-14). In that passage the writer makes clear that solid food enables the believer to use the Word to discern between good and evil. By knowing the deeper truths of the Bible, we can practice righteousness. Biblical truth—all of it—is both relevant and practical for the Christian life.”

A third excuse made for not emphasizing doctrine is that doctrines divide believers. That’s true, but it is not a legitimate reason to avoid studying and understanding Bible doctrine. A lot of things divide churches and believers.

Reasons Doctrine Is Important (and Practical)

Doctrine serves as the foundation for the Christian life and the motivation for Christian activity.

Only by knowing the truth can we know and counter false teaching and errant living. The thirteen plus lifestyles and actions listed in 1 Timothy 1:8–10 (e.g., rebelliousness, ungodliness, lying, homosexuality) are “contrary to sound teaching.”

As we approach the end of the age, it becomes increasingly important to know sound doctrine so that we do not give people what they want to hear to have their ears tickled instead of what they need to hear so that they won’t be carried away from the truth of God’s Word (2 Tim. 4:1–4).

Sound doctrine is, literally, healthy doctrine; therefore, to learn, teach, and preach doctrine brings spiritual wellness and wholeness to believers.

Some significant and practical ramifications stem from the importance of doctrine.

First, realize that everyone has a doctrinal system, even though the individual may not realize or acknowledge this to be true. It may be systematic or unorganized, even sloppy, but we all operate on the basis of some doctrinal scheme. Obviously the “free thinking” atheist and agnostic do, as well as the more structured Calvinist and Arminian. Therefore, the preacher and teacher, professional and layman, need to read theology regardless of his type or place or level of service.

Second, never demean the importance of semantics. How often I have heard a student attempt to rationalize a poor or imprecise statement by saying, “It’s just a matter of semantics.” Such a response is supposed to excuse fuzzy or sloppy, if not wrong, choice of words. That student is more on target than he realizes when he says it’s a matter of semantics since everything we say or write or even think concerns semantics. Semantics involves the study of meanings of words; therefore, the words we use affect the meaning we are trying to convey. So as we study, think about, teach, preach, and live the Word of God, we must pay careful attention to the words we use in communicating that they are precise, clear, and exact.

A concluding and sobering thought: what I teach today will be a part of shaping people, churches, and missions tomorrow.

Since doctrine is so important and relevant, how then can I communicate the doctrines of Scripture so that they may become implanted in our minds and hearts and displayed in our lives?

Read on.

Excerpted from Ryries’ Practical Guide to Communicating Bible Doctrine by Charles Ryrie. Copyright © 2005. Used by permission of B&H Publishing Group. All rights to this material are reserved. Materials are not to be distributed to other web locations for retrieval, published in other media, or mirrored on other sites without written permission from B&H Publishing Group.

Like this post? Subscribe to our feed .